Egg carton closing machine



April 1967 s. SOENNICHSEN EGG CARTON CLOSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 30, 1964 for 2250 z Flora We? a S. SOENNICHSEN EGG CARTONCLOSING MACHINE April 18, 1967 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1964 April18, 1967 s. SOENNICHSEN 3,314,217

EGG CARTON CLOSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 50, 1964 5 Sheet5-5heet .5

United States Patent 3,314,217 EGG CARTON CLOSING MACIHNE SoenkeSoennichs-en, Chicago, 111., assignor to Premier Tool Works, Inc.,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 33, 1964, Ser. No.341,387 7 Claims. (Cl. 53376) This invention relates to an egg cartonclosing machine, and, more particularly, to a machine having a novelcombination of rail and roller means for effecting closure of the cartontop without damage to the eggs contained in the carton.

Among the cartons which are advantageously closed according to theinstant invention is the type of carton seen in US. Patent No.1,783,397. Generally, egg cartons have a dozen compartments defined byinterlocking paperboard members and an elongated top terminating in aflap adapted to be received in locking engagement with thecarton-defining paperboard members. This top is initially providedgenerally coplanar with the rear wall of the carton so as to facilitateinsertion of the eggs. After the eg s have been installed in the carton,it is necessary to crease or fold the top along two lines to achieve thelocking just referred to.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a general object of theinvention is to provide a machine for automatically closing an eggcarton.

A more specific object is to provide an egg carton closing machineembodying a plurality of rails and wheels or rollers provided in spaced,cooperating arrangement, whereby the various creasings and locking areachieved while the carton is uniquely supported against distortion whichmight tend to break the eggs.

Other advantages and objectives of the invention may be seen in thedetails of construction and operation set down in the followingspecification.

The invention is explained in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a View in side elevation of the upper portion of a machine forclosing filled egg cartons;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine appearing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a portion ofthe machine on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the carton inletend of the machine as taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another transverse sectional View taken through a part of themachine as seen along the sight line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational View, on an enlarged scale, ofthe parts appearing in the central portion of FIG. 1 and which will bemore fully referred to later;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of certain parts appearing in FIG. 6 but on areduced scale; and

FIG. 8 is a view in end elevation of a filled egg carton which has beenclosed after passing through the machine.

Referring first to FIG. 8, the symbol C designates a carton which ismanipulated by the inventive machine shown in the other views of thedrawing. The carton C has a top designated T which is folded along alongitudinal line in conventional fashion to define a flap F. The edgeof the flap as at L is equipped with a plurality of locking projectionswhich snap in under the coop-' erating latching portion L provided onthe carton C. The symbol E in FIG. 8 designates an egg which ispositioned in each compartment of the carton.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the machine is seen in side elevation andincludes a frame generally designated 10.

Provided as part of the frame 10 are stanchions or columns 11 so as tosupport a flat, generally horizontallydisposed platform 12. The platform12 is arranged to be coplanar with an inlet conveyor 13 and an outletconveyor 14.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 15 designates generally a beltconveyor which is advantageously constructed of rubber and equipped withtransverse corrugations or ribs as at 15a in FIG. 3. The drive mechanismgenerally designated 16 for the endless belt conveyor 15 includes (asseen in FIG. 1) a drive pulley 17 rotatably mounted on the frame 10. Atthe entering end of the frame 10, a driven pulley 18 is provided, andintermediate the ends is provided a tensioning pulley or roll 19. Theroll 19 is mounted on a pivot arm 20 and tensioned by means of a spring21.

The numeral 22 designates a motor fixed on the frame 10 which operatesthrough a sprocket 23 to transmit power to a sprocket 25 by means of achain 24. The sprocket 25 is mounted on shaft 26, which also carries thepulley or roll 17.

A cross shaft 27 is provided at the entering end of the machine to carrythe pulley or roll 18. Additionally, the shaft 27 (as best seen in FIG.4) carries a pulley 28 in which is reeved a belt 29. The belt 2? in turnextends, as seen in FIG. 3, about the second pulley 29a so as to drive afirst wheel 31) (see particularly FIGS. 2 and 4).

The first wheel 30 is disposed for rotation in a generally horizontalplane, while a second wheel 31 (see FIG. 1) is mounted for rotation in agenerally vertical plane. The second wheel 31 is also driven by powerfrom the shaft 27 as through the belt and pulley system designated 32 inFIGS. 1 and 4. In FIG. 4, it will be seen that the shaft 27 is journaledin bearings 27a which are secured to the underside of the platform 12.

An elongated rail 33 is provided in general alignment with the secondwheel 31 (see especially FIG. 4). By referring to FIG. 4, it will beseen that the initial condition to the top T is altered when thisportion of the carton comes under the influence of the rotating firstwheel 3%. The first wheel 30 pivots the top downwardly toward the cartonto the alternative position illustrated in FIG. 4 and wherein theunderside of the top bears against the rail 33. At this juncture, thetop T comes under the influence of the second wheel 31, which intiatesthe development of the fold defining the flap F. It will be noted thatthe first wheel 39 is rearward (considering the direction of travel ofthe belt conveyor 15) from the second wheel 31. Thus, the wheel 30 hasample time to develop the folded top T before the flap is developed bycooperation of the Wheel 31 and the first rail 33.

Still referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the plat form isequipped with guides 34 on its top surface to provide ways for the belt15. The guides 34 are suitably anchored to angles 35, which in turn aresecured to the platform 12. Additionally, the angles 35 provide supportsfor other rails 36 and 37. The rails 36 and 37 (as can be seen fromFIGS. 1 and 6) extend generally over the entire length of the frame 10so as to support and confine the longitudinal sides of the carton Cduring the closing operation. Thus, any tendency of the carton to becomedistorted and thereby crush the eggs E is avoided.

The wheel 30, as mentioned previously, is driven from the cross shaft 27by means of a belt 23 entrained in a pulley 28. The driven pulley inthis system, which is designated 29a in FIG. 3, is mounted on a verticalshaft 40 (see FIG. 4) suitably journaled in a bearing 39 carried by anangle clip 38. The wheel 30 is equipped with beveled edges as at 41 inFIG. 4.

In like fashion, the Wheel 31 is equipped with beveled edges as at 42(still referring to FIG. 4), and it is seen that the wheel 31 is alsoequipped with a generally cylindrical portion as at 42a to coact withthe circular cross section rail 33 in developing the crease or folddefining the flap F.

Still referring to FIG. 4, the numeral 43- designates a superstrucurefastened to the platform 12 which supports the wheel 31 for rotation.The superstructure 43 includes a horizontal shaft 43a rotatably mountedthereon carrying the wheel 31 and being operatively associated with thebelt and pulley system 32.

Now moving forwardly in the direction of carton movement, the nextstructure encountered is a plow-like rail 44 (see FIG. 6). Rail 44 issuitably supported on the platform 12 by means of the angle clip 44acarrying a plate 44/). The plate 44b includes a flange 440 which ispartially broken away and which supports the rail 44 by means of a post44d.

Cooperating with the rail 44 in further defining the crease providingthe flap F is a pivot rail 45. The rail 45 is pivotally mounted on apost 46 and is equipped with a roller 47 (see FIG. 7). The pivot rail 45is urged against a stop or post 48 by means of a leaf spring 49. Priorto contacting the pivot bar 45, the fiap F of the carton C encounters anidler roller 50 suitably supported on the frame platform 12 as at 50::(see FIG. 6). The function of the rails 44 and 45 is to align the flap Fwith the inside front wall of the carton C, as is illustrated in theupper dashed line showing in FIG. 5. There, the plow rail 44- hasalready served to urge the top T downwardly and the pivot rail 45 hasperformed its function in urging the flap F into a generally verticalplane.

While all this is happening to a carton, the hinge side of the top T isbeing creased by means of a parallelogram linkage bar 51 carryingrollers 52, 53 and 54 (compare FIGS. 2, 3 and 5). In FIG. 2, forexample, it will be seen that the rollers 52 and 54 are spaced apartsufficiently so as to act upon a given carton before that carton engagesthe plow rail and even after the time the flap has been locked in place.The parallelogram linkage bar 51 is equipped with a spring 55 tending tourge the rollers 52-54 downwardly against the carton top, as isillustrated in heavy line in FIG. 3. For this purpose, the linkage baris equipped with links as at 56, the up position of the bar 51 beingshown in dotted line in FIG. 3.

After the flap has been properly positioned for insertion through thecoaction of the rails 44 and 45, the surfaces of the top immediatelyadjacent the flap F engage a first locking roller 57 (see FIG. 6). Theroller 57 is mounted on an arm 58 which, in turn, is pivotally carriedon a pedestal 59. A spring 60 interconnects the arm 58 with the platform12, urging the roller 57 downwardly against a stop 61. The pedestal 59carries a second roller 62 mounted on its arm 63, which in turn is vspring-loaded as at 64 against a stop 65. As can be appreciated fromFIG. 6, the carton is closed by the time it issues from under the roller62, the function of the rollers 57 and 62 being further appreciated froma consideration of FIG. 5, where the roller 57 is clearly seen.

In the operation of the invention, a carton filled with eggs but havingan open top is advanced toward the frame 10 of the input conveyor 13.The conveyor belt 15, powered through the motor 22, conveys the cartonalong the length of the platform 12 which is relatively narrow. Theplatform 12 provides guides and ways in the form of elements 3436 (secespecially FIG. 5), which guide the belt and confine the longitudinalsides of the carton against distortion, i.e., bowing, under the stressesimparted to the carton from the various rails and wheels to which it issubjected in closing the top T. The first element encountered foreffecting closure of the top T is the bevel-edged disc or wheel 30' (seeFIG. 4), which engages the leading edge of the upstanding top T andfolds the same downwardly through about a 60 arc until 4 the top engagesthe longitudinally-extending first rail 33.

The crease or fold defining the flap F is brought about by the coactionof the rail 33 and the second wheel 31, the wheel 31 being spacedforwardly from the wheel 30, as can be readily appreciated from aconsideration of FIG. 2. The wheel 31 has a bevel-edged portion as at 42and a cylindrical portion as at 42a, which is optimally constructed ofsoft rubber, so as to develop the crease defining the flap F.

As the top exits from under the wheel 31, it comes under the influenceof the plow rail 44 (see FIG. 6). Substantially simultaneously, the flapF is engaged by the idler roller 50 and thereafter is engaged by thepivot rail 45these elements also being shown clearly in FIG. 6. The plowrail 44 is a rigid member, while the pivot rail 45 is spring-loaded asat 49 in FIG. 7. By virtue of having encountered the rails 44 and 45,the top i now ready for the locking action, which is performed by thelever-mounted rollers 57 and 62 (see FIG. 6). These rollers 57 and 62ride immediately above the front comer of the top (see FIG. 5) to urgethe locking elements L under the latching portions L (compare FIGS. 6and 8). Once this is achieved, the output conveyor 14 takes over andconveys the now-completed carton to a site of shipment.

During the entire operation, it is unnecessary for any manual handlingto occur, and further the shape of the carton is preservednotwithstanding the fact that substantial stresses are applied toproperly shape and move the top and flap portions of the carton.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of anembodiment of the invention has been set down for the purpose ofexplanation, many variations in the details herein given may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flaptops, comprising a frame providing a generally horizontal, elongatedplatform, means on said frame for advancing a carton across saidplatform along a generally linear path from one end thereof to theopposite end thereof, wheel means mounted for rotation in a generallyhorizontal plane on said platform adjacent one side of said path forinitially folding the carton top from a generally vertical orientationtoward a horizontal orientation, first rail means on said platformadjacent the other side of said path limiting the folding of the cartontop under the urging of said wheel means by bearing upwardly againstsaid top, second wheel means on said frame spaced forwardly of saidfirst wheel means in the direction of carton travel and mounted forrotation in a generally vertical plane for developing a flap edgeportion in said top by folding a portion of said top over said firstrail means, second rail means on said frame spaced forwardly in thedirection of carton travel from said first rail means for furtherdeveloping said flap edge portion and positioning the same for lockinginsertion into said carton, and third wheel means spaced forwardly ofsaid second wheel means for urging said flap edge portion into lockingrelation with said carton.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which fourth wheel means are provided onsaid frame spaced forwardly of said first wheel means and on the sameside of said path for creasing the line of junction between said top andthe carton body.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which side rails are provided on bothsides of said path extending generally over said path and below thepreviously-mentioned rail means for confining the carton sides duringthe folding operation performed on said top.

4. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flaptops, comprising a frame, a generally horizontally-disposed, elongatedplatform on said frame, an endless conveyor belt extending lengthwise ofsaid platform for conveying egg-filled cartons therealong, a taperededge wheel rotatably mounted on said platform adjacent one side of saidconveyor for initially folding said carton top downwardly toward theremainder of the carton from a generally vertical orientation, means onsaid frame for rotating said first wheel in a generally horizontalplane, a first rail rigidly mounted on said frame opposite said firstwheel and extending beyond said first wheel in the direction of cartontravel on said frame, said first rail cooperating with said first Wheelin limiting the folding of said carton top, a second wheel rotatablymounted on said frame above said first rail and cooperating therewith indefining a flap edge on said top after said top has been brought intobearing engagement With said first rail under the urging of said firstwheel, a pair of rails on each side of said path extending generallyover the length of said conveyor for confining the vertical sides of acarton being advanced on said platform by said conveyor, second andthird rails generally aligned with said second wheel for furtherdeveloping the flap edge of said top, said third rail being mounted forpivotal movement against said flap and being positioned below saidsecond rail, third and fourth wheels rotatably and pivotally mounted onsaid frame forwardly of said second Wheel and generally alignedtherewith by virtue of being on the same side of said conveyor, saidthird and fourth Wheel functioning to insert said flap into lockingengagement with said carton, and a parallelogram linkage equipped withrollers for creasing said carton along the line of juncture of said topwith the remainder of said carton.

5. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flaptops, comprising a frame providing a generally horizontal, elongatedplatform, means on said frame for advancing a carton acros said platformalong a generally linear path from one end thereof to the 0pposite endthereof, wheel means mounted for rotation in a generally horizontalplane on said platform adjacent one side of said path for initiallyfolding the carton top from a generally vertical orientation toward ahorizontal orientation, first rail means on said platform adjacent theother side of said path limiting the folding of the carton top under theurging of said wheel means, second wheel means on said frame spacedforwardly of said first wheel means in the direction of carton traveland mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane and cooperatingwith said first rail means in developing a flap edge portion in saidtop, second rail means on said frame spaced forwardly in the directionof carton travel from said first rail means for further developing saidflap edge portion and positioning the same for locking insertion intosaid carton, and third wheel means spaced forwardly of said second wheelmeans for urging said flap edge portion into locking relation with saidcarton, said second rail means including a pair of rails verticallyrelated to each other, the upper of said pair of rails being fixedrelative to said platform and equipped with an upswept end firstcontacting the top of a carton, the other of said pair of rails beingpivotally mounted on said platform and resiliently urged against saidfiap to orient the same in a generally vertical plane and cooperatingwith the first rail in positioning said top and flap for movementdownwardly into locking relation with said carton.

6. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flaptops, comprising a frame providing a generally horizontal, elongatedplatform, means on said frame for advancing a carton across saidplatform along a generally linear path from one end thereof to theopposite end thereof, wheel means mounted for rotation in a generallyhorizontal plane on said platform adjacent one side of said path forinitially folding the carton top from a generally vertical orientationtoward a horizontal orientation, first rail means on said platformadjacent the other side of said path limiting the folding of the cartontop under the urging of said wheel means, second wheel means on saidframe spaced forwardly of said first wheel means in the direction ofcarton travel and mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane,and cooperating with said first rail means in developing a flap edgeportion in said top, second rail means on said frame spaced forwardly inthe direction of carton travel from said first rail means for furtherdeveloping said flap edge portion and positioning the same for lockinginsertion into said carton, and third wheel means spaced forwardly ofsaid second wheel means for urging said flap edge portion into lockingrelation with said carton, said third wheel means including a pair ofrollers resiliently urged against the top of a carton passingthereunder, said pair of wheels being spaced apart in the direction ofcarton travel in said path, the first encountered wheel of said thirdwheel means having operably associated therewith a stop member limitingthe downward movement of the first encountered wheel to a positionhigher than the second whee-l of said third wheel means.

7. Apparatus for closing egg cartons equipped with pivoted lock flaptops, comprising a frame providing a generally horizontal, elongatedplatform, means on said frame for advancing a carton across saidplatform along a generally linear path from one end thereof to theopposite end thereof, Wheel means mounted for rotation in a generallyhorizontal plane on said platform adjacent one side of said path forinitially folding the carton top from a generally vertical orientationtoward a horizontal orientation, first rail means on said platformadjacent the other side of said path limiting the folding of the cartontop under the urging of said wheel means, second wheel means on saidframe spaced forwardly of said first wheel means in the direction ofcarton travel and mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane andcooperating with said first rail means in developing a flap edge portionin said top, second rail means on said frame spaced forward- -ly in thedirection of carton travel from said first rail means for furtherdeveloping said flap edge portion and positioning the same for lockinginsertion into said carton, and third wheel means spaced forwardly ofsaid second wheel means for urging said flap edge portion into lockingrelation with said carton, both the first-mentioned wheel means and thesecond wheel means being equipped with beveled edges, said second Wheelmeans additionally being equipped with a cylindrical-edged portion forcooperation with said first rail means in defining a crease fordeveloping a flap on said top.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,200 12/1936Ford et a1 53376 2,242,304 5/1941 Johnson 53-376 X 2,625,778 1/1953 Wood53---376 X 2,909,880 10/1959 Mumma 53-377 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, PrimaryExaminer.

1. APPARATUS FOR CLOSING EGG CARTONS EQUIPPED WITH PIVOTED LOCK FLAPTOPS, COMPRISING A FRAME PROVIDING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL, ELONGATEDPLATFORM, MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR ADVANCING A CARTON ACROSS SAIDPLATFORM ALONG A GENERALLY LINEAR PATH FROM ONE END THEREOF TO THEOPPOSITE END THEREOF, WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN A GENERALLYHORIZONTAL PLANE ON SIAD PLATFORM ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF SAID PATH FORINITIALLY FOLDING THE CARTON TOP FROM A GENERALLY VERTICAL ORIENTATIONTOWARD A HORIZONTAL ORIENTATION, FIRST RAIL MEANS ON SAID PLATFORMADJACENT THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PATH LIMITING THE FOLDING OF THE CARTONTOP UNDER THE URGING OF SAID WHEEL MEANS BY BEARING UPWARDLY AGAINSTSAID TOP, SECOND WHEEL MEANS ON SAID FRAME SPACED FORWARDLY OF SAIDFIRST WHEEL MEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF CARTON TRAVEL AND MOUNTED FORROTATION IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE FOR DEVELOPING A FLAP EDGEPORTION IN SAID TOP BY FOLDING A PORTION OF SAID TOP OVER SAID FIRSTRAIL MEANS, SECOND RAIL MEANS ON SAID FRAME SPACED FORWARDLY IN THEDIRECTION OF CARTON TRAVEL FROM SAID FIRST RAIL MEANS FOR FURTHERDEVELOPING SAID FLAP EDGE PORTION AND POSITIONING THE SAME FOR LOCKINGINSERTION INTO SAID CARTON, AND THIRD WHEEL MEANS SPACED FORWARDLY OFSAID SECOND WHEEL MEANS FOR URGING SAID FLAP EDGE PORTION INTO LOCKINGRELATION WITH SAID CARTON.